Son's shock discovery of dead mum sparked double murder probe

A shocked son discovered the body of his dead mum at her home in Shirebrook before the woman's dead mother was also found at the property.

Chesterfield coroners’ court heard during the opening of an inquest today, Tuesday, March 8, how Liam Parker had been trying to contact his mum Julie Hill, 51, before he visited her home on Station Road and found her dead.

Paramedics and police were alerted and confirmed the bodies of Julie Hill and her mother Rose Hill, 75, of Sheffield, had been found at the Shirebrook property on Friday, February 26, and they launched a murder investigation.

Detective Constable Tony Owen, of Derbyshire Constabulary’s major crimes team, told the inquest opening: “Both were found at Station Road. Julie Hill lived at Station Road and Rose Hill was visiting on Thursday, February 25, and Liam Parker - Julie’s son - had been trying to make contact on Thursday and Friday but was unable to.

Police launched a double murder investigation following the discovery of the dead bodies of Julie Hill and Rose Hill at Julie Hill's house, pictured left, on Station Road, Shirebrook.

“He went into the house and found his mum in the property deceased.

“He was visiting the address anyway and he found Julie Hill deceased in the property.

“An ambulance was called and as a result of that Rose Hill was found separately in the house.”

Det Con Owen confirmed Julie Hill was identified by her dental records and Rose Hill, of St Francis Close, Crosspool, Sheffield, was identified by her sister Susan Hill at a mortuary.

Both women were certified dead on February 26.

The Assistant Coroner for Derbyshire, James Newman, told the inquest hearing that post mortem results into the deaths are still outstanding pending further tests so no formal causes of death have been established.

He adjourned the inquest for a date to be fixed following a review on September 8 to allow for post mortem results to be established and for police investigations to continue.

The semi-detached property concerned, at Shirebrook, was cordoned off from Friday, February 26, as forensic teams and scenes of crime officers carried out an investigation.

Christopher Whelan, 20 of Dransfield Road, Crosspool, Sheffield, has been arrested and charged with murdering the two women.

He appeared at Chesterfield magistrates’ court on Tuesday, March 1, accused of allegedly murdering the two women on Thursday, February 25, and his case was committed to Nottingham Crown Court for a hearing on March 2.

Whelan was remanded in custody and his case was further adjourned until another hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on April 12.

The family of Julie and Rose Hill have stated that they have been left devastated by the two deaths but both women will forever be in their hearts.